Shoe-fastener.



PATBNTED' MAR. si, 1908.,

G. 'HIRSGHELL SHOE PASTBNER.- APPLICATION FILED DEO. 19. 1902.

NOMODBL.

UNITED STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE IlIRSCHELL, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,391, dated March31, 1903. Application filed December 19, 1902. Serial No. 135,872. (Nomodel.)

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE HIRSCHELL, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain newand usefullmprovements in Shoe- Fasteners, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and,

useful improvements in shoe-fasteners; and the main obj ect of theinvention is to provide novel means for the fastening of the shoethroughout the length of the front openin g or slit for effectuallyclosing the shoe in an eX-V tremely-rapid manner.

Briefly described, the invention comprises a spring metal strip ortongue engaging in slides or guideways provided therefor in the adjacentedges of the slit made in the shoetop. Suitable means is provided forsecuring the spring-tongue in the fastened position, and this tonguewhen released is adapted to wind upon a small shaft located at the lowerend of the slit in the shoe-top.

To describe the invention in detail, reference will be had, to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and whereinlike numerals of reference will be employed for indicating like partsthroughout the several views, in which;

Figure l is a detail perspective view of a shoe equipped with myimproved fastening means. Fig. 2 is a detached enlarged side elevationof one of the slides or guideways or strips in which the spring-metaltongue is adapted to operate. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 4is a transverse vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 5 is an edge viewof the spring-metal strip or tongue. Fig. 6 is a detached frontAelevation of the same. Fig.7 is a transverse vertical sectional viewthereof. Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional View of a part of theshoe and of the fastening, showing the tongue in locked engagement withthe slides or guideways. Fig. 9 is a detached detail enlarged View ofthe tonguecarrying member and tongue, showing the tongue wound on itsshaft. Fig.10 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the same.

Fig. 11 is a detached detail top plan view of 'ing the tongue inposition.

the locking-button, and Fig. l2 is adetached detail side elevation ofthe same.

In the accompanying drawings, l indicates the upper of the shoe; 2, thetop part of the shoe, which top part is slit down the front from theupper edge thereof to the upper of the shoe in the usual manner in orderto permit the opening of the shoe to permit the ingress and egress ofthe foot. Firmly. embedded in the material of which the top of the shoeis formed along the edges of the slit are slides or ways 3, somewhatV-shaped in cross section and provided with inturned fianges 4, (seeFig. 4,) either one or both sides of the ways or slides being providedwith apertures 5 to permit of the ways or slides being fastenedsecurelyin the shoe-top by stitching or other approved means.

Mounted on the upper 2, directly at the lower termination of the slit inthe shoe-top, is a plate 6, carrying small lugs or keepers 7,

in which is mounted a shaft 8, to which is connected the lower end of aspring-tongue 9. This spring-tongue isprovided with slideflanges 10,making the same substantially I- shaped in cross-section, (see Fig. 7,)these slide-hanges slidingin the ways 3 and hold- The upper end ofthetongue is provided with an eye 11, in which is mounted for rotation theshank 12 of a button 14, the shank having a flattened portion 15, whichwhen the button is turned vso as to engage the'flattened portion withthe upper ends of the ways 3 rests thereon and holds the spring-tonguein engagement with the ways. The shank of the button is riveted in asmall washer 16, which prevents the same pulling out of the eye in thetongue.

When the shank of the securing-button is turned so that the flattenedportion thereof is in line with the passage .between V the two ways3,the tongue 9 is free,and when released by reason of the coil-springwinds upon the shaft at the bottom of the slit,thereby opening theshoe-top to permit the-'shoe to b e placed on the foot. When the foothas been inserted in the shoe, the tongue is drawn upwardly by pullingon the button 14 and the button.

ends of said ways to hold the tongue in the elevated position. j

While I have herein shown and described the invention in detail, yet itwill be observed that in the practice of the same various changes may bemade without departing from the general spirit of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the shoe, and the ways fitted in the shoe-top, ofa spring-tongue adapted to slide in said ways, and means carried by theshoe-upper upon which the tongue is wound when released, substantiallyas described. 4

2. In combination with the shoe-top, the ways fitted therein and thetongue arranged In testimony whereof I affix my signature 3o in thepresence of two witnesses.

GEORGE I-IIRSCHELL.

IVitnesses:

II. C. EVERT, A. M WILSON.

